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US Postal Employees: Start Fighting Back

The reason that no one has been sent to jail is because the unions have been twiddling their thumbs in the administrative process--Time fraud within the US Postal services --which has been the subject of my past several columns-- is not a "grievance" it's a federal crime.

[Beneath The Radar]

Open Letter To US Postal Employees

A federal statute regarding time fraud is on the books, and it's clear. The time has come to see to it that it is not ignored.

18 U.S.C. § 1001 reads as follows: "Except as otherwise provided in this section, whoever, in any matter within the jurisdiction of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the Government of the United States, knowingly and willfully - (1) falsifies, conceals, or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact; (2) makes any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation; or (3) makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry; shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not morethan 5 years or, if the offense involves international or domestic terrorism (as defined in section 2331), imprisoned not more than 8 years, or both."

The reason that no one has been sent to jail, or at the very least, fired, under this statute is because the unions have been twiddling their thumbs in the administrative process instead of using the clout of the membership's numbers to flex its political muscle. Time fraud within the US Postal services --which has been the subject of my past several columns-- is not a "grievance" it's a federal crime.

Filing grievances and EEOs play right into the PO's hands. The administrative process takes forever, and justice delayed is justice denied. The system is stacked against the grievant or complainant. It's designed to make you think you have rights, while its actual function is to maintain the status quo - that's why you're paying thousands of dollars in union dues and you're still suffering.

Have you ever wondered why an employee can pick up a Walmart coupon out of the trash and be summarily fired, while your manager can be caught falsifying thousands of dollars of employee clock rings then be promoted? Wake up.

If you want justice and real job security, you're going to have to make the jobs of your boss, your union officers, and your politicians insecure. You're going to have to shine a bright enough light on laziness, complacence, and corruption to place their jobs in jeopardy.

Time fraud and falsifying government documents is punishable by five years in federal prison. But in spite of the fact that the United States Postal Service is stealing millions of dollars per day from its employees, you're not seeing anyone go to jail, or even fired for the crime.

In fact, one acting CSO in the Los Angeles District was even promoted after charges were brought against him for time fraud. The reason for that is your unions have been less than progressive in pursuing your rights. They've been satisfied to get one or two people paid a year --just enough to look good on their resume-- then letting the PO sweep the matterunder the rug.

That's not an unsubstantiated allegation. The facts are clear. You're living it. That's why time fraud continues to be a problem. The postal service knows that the unions are ineffective, so they can rob, abuse, and intimidate you with impunity.

What's so unconscionable about this situation is that it can be so easily addressed. A thief needs the cover of darkness to commit his crimes, so all the unions have to do is shine a light on what's going on. Why haven't they?

The OIG has been ignoring this issue for years, but after I started bringing it out into the open in March

I have continued to hammer away at it and demanding that the Inspector General (OIG) and PMG be fired, all of a sudden the OIG recognize the need for a national audit. But in February of this year when the theft of JoAnn Snow's time was reported in the Los Angeles district, OIG Special Agent Reid Robbins said that "the OIG's office generally doesn't investigate time issues." Well, I guess they've reconsidered that position:

Recent news stories have identified a few instances where Postal Service employees have had time deleted from electronic time card records. There have also been other time and attendance instances where managers inaccurately calculated employee work hours for out–of-schedule work.

If you are a Postal Service employee and are experiencing similar problems or any other time and attendance issues at your work place, we would like to hear from you.

To empower local communities, Allimadi teaches a free journalism workshop Guerrilla Journalism every Monday from 6PM to 8PM at True South Bookstore, 492 Nostrand Avenue. Anyone is welcome to attend. Call (347) 257-7330 or just drop in.